Esther 8:10-14

10He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on 1horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud. 112In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right 3to assemble and to defend their lives, 4to destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and 5to plunder their spoil, 12on 6one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar). 137A copy of the edict to be 8issued as law in each and every province was published to all the peoples, so that the Jews would be ready for this day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14The couriers, hastened and impelled by the king’s command, went out, riding on the royal steeds; and the decree was given out at the citadel in Susa.